I thank Mairead McGrath and Brian Ó Domhnaill for putting together this Private Members’ motion. It is an important motion referring to the many difficulties people have experienced during this Covid crisis. In many cases, people have been overlooked during this pandemic. We need to be cautious about and respect the dangers of Covid-19 which is what rural communities have tried to do, in particular my constituency. I want to look at issues and areas where there have been serious failings during the period of Covid-…

Brexit is a huge worry on the minds of many people in the Republic as the deadline is looming ever so near, with no agreement in place as we speak. There is no doubt that Brexit will impact on many businesses. While much preparation has been made for that impact, not knowing is the hardest pill to swallow right now. Agriculture will be hard hit. A recent Central Bank report stated that beef and sheep farmers will be the most economically vulnerable. It states that up to one third of farms could be forced out of bus…

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. I thank the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly - I always believe in calling a spade a spade - for sorting out the medicinal cannabis access for Vera Twomey's daughter, Ava, and for so many sufferers who desperately need access to this medicine. However, people are suffering from the worry of losing their eyesight. They are contacting me and other politicians to find out if they can access cross-border care of a different type from 1 January next. There is no po…

I have previously raised the question of energy security with respect to gas and other power supplies. We currently have no gas storage in Ireland and we are 100% dependent on Britain for gas imports. Kinsale gas field is finished and there is a major decline in production at Corrib. There are now reports that EirGrid is experiencing difficulties dealing with peak electricity demand because of a lack of capacity. With an increase in renewable energy and the phasing out of peat and coal, what is our plan to back up …

The Taoiseach is not answering my question.

I have a point of order.

I stand on my own two feet.

It is a good time to be debating the European Council meeting, given that so much is dependent on a resolution to the Brexit negotiations. The Minister is well aware, given his own constituency, of the negative effects of Brexit on Irish agriculture. A recent report from the Central Bank indicates that beef and sheep farmers will be the most economically vulnerable and that up to one third of Irish farmers could be forced out of business. I am also very worried about the negotiations on fishing rights in Europe at …

We are discussing Zoom meetings for county development plans. I would not be greatly in favour of them. Down through the years I have involved myself in my community in county development plans and national development plans. It is hard enough to get them to engage through public meetings not to mention Zoom-type meetings. I acknowledge it is a difficult time and we need to come up with new ideas, even though it may lead to part of the plan being delayed. Please God, this pandemic might wear off. Many issues need p…

Homelessness is a blight on our society. I know the difficulties that people are experiencing. I know people in Clonakilty who are sleeping in cars and vans. I am not singling out Clonakilty, because the same is happening in other places. My constituency office is always working with people who are on the verge of homelessness. It is difficult for people to access the property market because they cannot afford houses. Planning permission is a major issue in my constituency. Young people who want to start off in lif…

Last night, the 'Belfast or Blind' bus no. 63 arrived back in Cork and Kerry. It was the second of two buses in three days which were full of people relieved to have had eyesight-saving surgery in Belfast under the cross-border directive, where those people in the Republic on a waiting list for operations, such as for a cataract, can have the procedure done in the North and then be reimbursed. In recent months, in respect of the thousands of people in pain and going blind, I have tried to get clarity regarding if a…

Mental health is a huge issue in my constituency and throughout the country. I often say that we concentrated so much on Covid-19 that we took our eye off the ball for people with cancer or mental health stress. Some say there has been a huge increase in suicide. A proper register of people with mental health and death by suicide might show that those deaths might be at about the same level as Covid. Services have almost ground to a halt. People have been trying to get appointments for their young people who are in…

The fishing industry is hanging on the edge at this time due to the Brexit negotiations and British insistence that all EU trawlers vacate UK waters on 31 December. On top of this, we heard at the Select Committee on Agriculture and the Marine last week that there will be a 5% reduction in whitefish fleet fishing next year. This will mainly hit fishermen from Castletownbere and the south west. On top of successive Governments being unable to obtain lucrative bluefin tuna quotas for Ireland while other European coun…

The health insurance issue is scandalous to say the least. I speak to people who want to use health insurance and the greatest issue is that the cost prevents them from doing so. Recently, people have been contacting my office to say there have been several increases that are putting health insurance out of the reach of the ordinary person. This is an issue that needs to be addressed because we cannot have everybody in the medical card system. People try to put some money aside for health insurance but the cost is …

The visiting restrictions on nursing homes and community hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant negative effect on the psychological well-being of many residents. I fully understand the need for visiting restrictions to keep this elderly sector of our community safe during Covid but many residents have suffered psychologically. I welcome the new position where nursing home and community hospital residents can have one visit per week but it is far less than many residents would normally have. N…

The Irish fishing industry is hanging at the edge at this time due to Brexit negotiations and the British insistence that all EU trawlers vacate UK waters on 21 December 2020. On top of this, we heard at the agriculture and the marine committee on Tuesday there will be a 5% decrease in white fish fleet fishing next year, which will mainly hit fishermen from Castletownbere in the south west. This is on top of successive Irish Governments being unable to get lucrative bluefin tuna quota while our European counterpart…

The question was whose fish are being sold?

The Government is handing over our fish.

My contribution will be short. I did mention last night to the Minister, but our discussion was cut short, about pubs whose kitchens are not considered sufficient and they have been forced to close. They will not be entitled to the CRSS funding either because they did sell food previously. It would be fine if they were allowed to open but they are not. Because they sold food that they were able to make on the premises without a full kitchen, they are losing out on the payment. I would appreciate if the Minister cou…

I am delighted to have an opportunity to discuss this amendment, which relates to the carbon tax provision. That tax is nothing other than a direct attack on the people of rural Ireland.